When it comes to fall prevention, the bathroom should be a top priority. This could be the smallest room in the house, but also the most treacherous to navigate as there is still plenty of room for dangerous slips and falls. Here are what we found to be the Top 10 Bathroom Safety Items that any user can purchase for enhanced home safety.
1.Bath Benches and Shower Chairs – Perhaps the most useful tool for ambulatory patients, these chairs and benches are designed to allow the patient to sit while proceeding with their hygiene routine. Bathroom chairs and benches are stable, durable, and some provide access for convenient transfers in and out of the tub.
2. Safety Bath Mats – Safety Bath Mats are readily available and are a safety product that even caregivers may use in their own homes. These mats usually suction right into a tub, providing a non-slip surface for the patient to stand on during shower. Safety bath mats also aide in standing after taking a bath in the tub.
3. Back Scrubbers – Back-scrubbers act as an arm extension, which allows the user to comfortably and safely reach their back while washing. Some back-scrubbers may have wider handles for easy gripping and the heads can be made of many materials including sponge, mesh, or loofah for personalized comfort.
4. Grab Bars – Grab bars are essential for navigating the bathroom. These bars can be placed just about anywhere a patient may need them in the room and can be easily installed either by drilling them into wall studs or by simple suction. They have also been re-designed over time, making them more appealing fixtures in the bathroom and some are designed to double as towel racks for enhanced convenience.
5. Bathtub Rails – Tub rails easily attach to the side of the bathtub to offer a patient enhanced stability as they navigate the bathtub area. Bathtub rails are generally designed for easy installation and removal without damaging the tub surface.
6. Toilet Safety Frames – Toilet frames are convenient, easy to use, and generally simple to install. The unit is placed around the toilet in order to provide extra stability to assist in standing and sitting at the toilet. Toilet frames provide a patient with peace of mind and prevents patient falls.
7. Raised Toilet Seats and Commodes – Raised toilet seats are unique accessories for bathroom safety. This seat topping unit is simple to apply and use, wipes clean and helps to prevent injury to users - especially those with limited mobility - during toilet use. Commodes are handy as well, especially for those with ambulatory problems, night-time incontinence issues, or are recovering from procedures. Designed for easy emptying and cleaning, commodes generally stay near a patient's bed for easy access with minimal ambulation.
8. No-Rinse Bathing Products – No-Rinse products are excellent for bed-ridden patients. Made to be gentle on the skin, these products come in a variety of scents, fragrance free, and provide a time-saving, stress-free option for both the caregiver and patient. Some No-Rinse products are all-in-one, while others come individually packaged as shampoo, body wash, wipes, etc. All products are designed to dry without causing skin irritations, and provide a true and proper clean..
9. Walk-in Tubs - If you are looking to do a total bathroom remodel, a walk-in tub may be just right for you. Ambulatory patients will love this great and innovative shower tub. No more will they have to awkwardly, painfully and unsafely step in and out of a wet bathtub. Walk-in tubs have a hinged door, which allows the user to walk in out easily, and it seals tightly to keep water in. Plus, they can be large enough to accommodate a shower chair if necessary.
10. Barrier-free Showers – Barrier-free showers are excellent options for wheelchair bound patients. A replacement option for time-consuming patient transfer processes, barrier-free showers allow the caregiver to wheel their patient directly into the shower without lifting, transferring on benches, and allowing the patient to slide all around on wet surfaces. A barrier-free shower is not only safer for the patient, but also for the caregiver.
For enhanced home safety, browse our extensive line of bathroom safety products on our website, or call to speak with one of our excellent home healthcare customer service representatives for more information at 1-888-687-4334.